How did your love story begin?

Our love story is kinda crazy. We knew each other from high school, but it really started in January 2007. She came over with her cousin, and her cousin’s car doors froze shut that night from the cold. Sierra ended up spending the night at my apartment. We stayed up talking until the sun came up. Nothing happened physically, but that was the night I knew she was special.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

One of our favorite memories is the birth of our oldest son, Elyjha, on August 12, 2008. I was locked up at the time, but I got a furlough the very next day so I could see him. Holding my son for the first time and seeing Sierra as a mom after everything we’d been through was incredibly emotional. Even in one of the hardest chapters of our lives, that moment reminded us how strong our bond is and why we keep choosing each other.

What would you do with $20,000?

We’d pay off some bills and put some away for the kids. Then we’d take a week-long cabin trip, just the two of us — hot tub, good food, no kids, no stress. We’d also upgrade our bedroom a bit to keep the spark alive after 19 years. The rest would go toward making more memories as a family. At the end of the day we already feel like winners because we still choose each other every day